Roman Hairstyle Perfection modeled by a potential Bride. Recent archaeological discoveries may indicate they used needles and thread to achieve the complicated braiding and beading. The word acus was translated hairpin but Jane Stephens Baltimore, MD a hair archeologist embroidery hobbyist questioned this. She postulated acus was being used in its original meaning "embroidery" to create the intricate hairstyles. This theory has gained credibility.